'Learn About Wildlife' at Bushkill Falls

For more than 10 years, the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has been taking its show on the road and leading summer programs at Bushkill Falls with some of its resident animals. This Sunday, and a few dates in August, Kathy Uhler from the center will be offering a free presentation at the falls — "Learn About Wildlife."

For more than 10 years, the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has been taking its show on the road and leading summer programs at Bushkill Falls with some of its resident animals. This Sunday, and a few dates in August, Kathy Uhler from the center will be offering a free presentation at the falls — "Learn About Wildlife."

"We do about 10 programs a year with them. We've had a long relationship with Bushkill Falls," said Uhler. "We do our live wildlife educations program and bring eight or nine animals with us."

The family-centered program will get people up close with some of the area's native wildlife, while learning all about them.

"There are always reptiles, birds and mammals, but I won't say what I'm bringing so it's a surprise," Uhler said. "They are all wildlife native to Pennsylvania."

The free program is offered to anyone who visits Bushkill Falls on July 27, Aug. 2, 17 and 24 at 1 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. in the lunch pavilion area. The program adds to all the fun the falls offers to its visitors.

"The demonstration by the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center mesmerizes children and adults alike. Not only are they entertained, but they are educated about various wildlife," said Donna Smith, general manager of Bushkill Falls. "The Uhlers are dedicated to showing a wide variety of animals — the barn owl checks everyone out by moving only its head, and there are sometimes possums, a hawk, white skunk, white crow and more. Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center does a fine job in rehabilitating animals, and we are glad to have them as part of our ongoing programs at Bushkill Falls."

The center has been in the area for 35 years and does many different programs year round.

"We are a nonprofit, all-volunteer, state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitation and education center," said Uhler. "We help 12,000 to 13,000 animals a year. Just this year, we had 49 baby skunks, 50-plus raccoons, 75-plus opossums, too many squirrels to count, bunnies, owls, hawks, and we just released a bald eagle."

And while the center does many free programs at different venues and festivals, they rely on donations to keep it up and running.

"We have a wish list on our website, so people can help in many ways," said Uhler. "And we take donations at all our events."

In addition to the wildlife program, Bushkill Falls offers scenic hiking, mini-golf, paddle boats, a playground, mining for gemstones, mining maze, fishing and food and gifts. People travel from all over the area and world to experience all Bushkill Falls has to offer.

"What's really neat about Bushkill Falls is you have your local people, but you also have people from all over the world," said Uhler. "The language of animals always comes through."